Embroidery floss (use three strands each of black and red for eyes, eyebrows and mouth)

Sewing and embroidery needles

Optional 18-gauge wire so your flower can bend

Lingerie bag

Holding two strands of yarn together, cast 9 stitches onto a size US 8 double-pointed needle. On the first round, divide by knitting three stitches onto each of three needles. Place a locking-ring stitch marker in front of the first stitch on the first needle, joining on the next round.

Knit for 40 rounds.

Round 41: On Needle One, knit 1, place a marker, increase in next, place a marker, knit one (4 stitches)

Round 44: Needle One: K1, slip stitches between markers onto waste yarn or a stitch holder (3), then knit the remaining two stitches on the needle (3 stitches on the needle, 3 stitches on the waste yarn)

There will be 7 petals. Each will be knitted back and forth separately. Again, holding two strands of yarn together, choose the color you want for the petals and begin.

Row 1: Pick up 7 stitches along the outer edge of the center you've just finished.

Row 2: Knit

Row 3: Purl

Row 4: Knit

Row 5: Purl

Row 6: Knit

Row 7: Purl

Row 8: k2tog, knit to last 2, SSK these last two stitches

Row 9: Purl

Row 10: k2tog, k1, SSK (3)

Row 11: Purl

Row 12: k2tog, k1 (2)

Row 13: Purl

Row 14: k2tog (1)

Pull to tighten. Knot off. Cut yarn.

Repeat these 14 rows for each of the remaining petals.

When you have finished, put the flower in a lingerie bag and drop it in the washer. Set your washer on the smallest load with the hottest water. Add tennis balls for more agitation, if you'd like ... and just a little sprinkle of powdered laundry detergent or a drop of liquid laundry detergent.

Continue to check on your flower about every 5 minutes. It helps keep the flower stem from felting together if you poke a skewer up inside every time you check.

After the stitch definition has all but melted away into a nice, firm fabric, take your flower out and rinse it. Then, towel it dry.

You can pull it a bit, shaping the petals and the stem.

If you'd like your flower to be able to bend, measure the stem and cut this amount (it will be about 12 inches long) of 16 or 18-gauge wire. Bend the ends under with a needle-nosed pliers. Wrap wool tightly around the wire, completely covering it. Carefully push the covered wire all the way up through the stem as far as it will go. Using more wool, and a wooden skewer, stuff little bits all the way up the stem, around the wire. Also stuff the little flower's face through the tiny hole you've left in the center. When completely stuffed, sew up the center hole and the bottom of the stem, using matching thread.

Embroidering the face:

Take a bit of water-soluble embroidery stabilizer (or just try embroidering freehand) and draw a little face. Pin the stabilizer to the center of the flower. Using three strands of black embroidery floss, first use a satin stitch and embroider the eyes ... and use a back stitch to embroider the eyebrows.

The mouth is worked with three strands of red embroidery floss. Use a back stitch to to stitch the top of the mouth line and again for a smaller line underneath.

If you've used the stabilizer, you must remove it with boiling water. Remember ... it must be boiling, not just hot if you want to get it all off. (And believe me, you do!) Pour the water over the face.

Set it aside to let it cool and dry. That's it! Stay tuned for Dandy's friend Daisy!!!
Please do let me know if you decide to knit her! As always, if you run into any bumps or trouble spots, please email me and I'll help!

Please Don't Steal

I have shared photos and patterns of the projects I come up with for you to use, free of charge, but I ask that you do not post the photos or the patterns anywhere without my name and/or my permission. These projects are all intended for your own personal use only... not commercial or otherwise for sale!

Maggie Our Bearded Collie

About Me

I was a writer/columnist ... who became a stay-at-home mom ... who morphed into a homeschooling mom ... who took up knitting while waiting for my children at chess tournaments ... and caring for my elderly parents. I opened my online shop, http://www.thepatternbox.com in 2008. (Check it out for more of my designs!) Leisure Arts published "Storybook Dolls to Knit," my book of walkabout puppets, in 2011. My newest adventure: A grandson!